The offshore IT industry in Russia is evaluated by experts to be between £45 and £60 million and this market is dynamically growing by as much as 30-50% per annum. Leading global companies such as Intel, Motorola, Sun Microsystems, Boeing, Northern Telecom and others are interested in using it’s services. The Companies that visited England were from Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk.

Moscow, the seat of government and commercial centre of the country, has some of the largest most experienced software houses. From a background of servicing government agencies they have expanded to commercial enterprises and have an established international clientele. St. Petersburg was founded as Russia’s gateway city to the west and still retains that distinction. Known for her technical universities and as the cultural centre of the country, she has developed a thriving software industry. Novosibirsk is in Siberia, the heartland of the country, and is known as being the technological and computer centre of Russia. With some of the largest universities, and aircraft and defence industries in the country, these skills are now being applied to commercial applications.

Next see Selection of Russian IT Companies for more information